2021 Best Schools in Kentucky
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Schools in Kentucky ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 35 schools in Kentucky to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in Kentucky
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2021 rankings named Thomas More College the best school in Kentucky for students working on their degree.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,791 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $335, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from TMC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,833 during the early years of their career.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Kentucky. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Schools in Kentucky list.
Degree recipients from UK accumulate an average of $34,121 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $370. During the early years of their career, UK graduates make an average of $43,759 annually.
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The excellent programs at University of Louisville helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Kentucky.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $37,522 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $399.After graduating from U of L, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,317 during the early years of their career.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Northern Kentucky University is a great place for students.
On average, students take out $29,277 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $300 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from NKU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,387 during the early years of their career.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Asbury Theological Seminary is a great place for students.
On average, students take out $52,936 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $638. During the early years of their career, Asbury Seminary graduates make an average of $37,350 annually.
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Bellarmine University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Kentucky ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,176 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $350, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Bellarmine U graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,340 during the early year of their career.
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Asbury University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #7 on the list.
Degree recipients from Asbury accumulate an average of $25,654 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $300 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Asbury graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,283 during the early year of their career.
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With a ranking of #8, Jefferson Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,963 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $155, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Jefferson Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $36,100 annually.
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Spalding University landed the #9 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Spalding accumulate an average of $44,355 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $520.After graduating from Spalding, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,256 during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #10, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $16,113 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $141. During the early years of their career, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $35,643 annually.
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Bluegrass Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Schools in Kentucky list.
On average, students take out $14,959 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $131 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Bluegrass Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $36,346 annually.
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Murray State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Schools in Kentucky list.
Degree recipients from Murray State accumulate an average of $27,420 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $270, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Murray State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,530 during the early year of their career.
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University of the Cumberlands came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Kentucky ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,481 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $196 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Cumberland College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,100 during the early years of their career.
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Western Kentucky University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Schools in Kentucky list.
Degree recipients from WKU accumulate an average of $27,720 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $286. During the early years of their career, WKU graduates make an average of $37,438 annually.
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Eastern Kentucky University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Schools in Kentucky list.
Degree recipients from Eastern accumulate an average of $27,150 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $282, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Eastern graduates make an average of $38,311 annually.
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Midway University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Schools in Kentucky list.
On average, students take out $24,169 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $262, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Midway graduates make an average of $44,180 annually.
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With a ranking of #17, ATA College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $20,178 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $207, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, ATA College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,264 during the early year of their career.
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Sullivan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #18 on the list.
Degree recipients from Sullivan University accumulate an average of $31,751 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $365, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Sullivan University graduates make an average of $42,133 annually.
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Madisonville Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Kentucky ranking.
Degree recipients from Madisonville Community College accumulate an average of $12,089 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $96 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Madisonville Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,467 during the early year of their career.
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Georgetown College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Schools in Kentucky list.
Degree recipients from Georgetown College accumulate an average of $25,860 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $253. Once they receive their degree, Georgetown College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,625 during the early year of their career.
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With a ranking of #21, Owensboro Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from Owensboro Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $12,980 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $110.After graduating from Owensboro Community and Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,675 during the early years of their career.
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Lindsey Wilson College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Kentucky ranking.
Degree recipients from Lindsey Wilson College accumulate an average of $23,429 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $308, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Lindsey Wilson College graduates make an average of $32,217 annually.
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With a ranking of #23, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $17,261 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $160. Once they receive their degree, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,300 during the early year of their career.
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Morehead State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Kentucky ranking.
On average, students take out $28,524 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $286 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Morehead State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,450 during the early years of their career.
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West Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Kentucky ranking.
On average, students take out $12,651 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $118. During the early years of their career, West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $25,656 annually.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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